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100 years of US routes: 1926-2026
Endpoints of
2003-present
North: Monticello, UT
South: Gallup, NM
As of 2020, US 491 measured 193.7 miles in total length.
Note: as of 2018, US 491 is signed as a north-south route along its entire length, but until sometime after 2012, it was signed east-west in Utah.
US 491 was commissioned in 2003 to replace the remaining mileage of US 666. This photo shows how Colorado DoT signed the route when it was first commissioned:
Riner, Jun. 2003
That was taken on CO hwy.141 near Dove Creek, approaching its junction with the dual-identity highway. Utah and New Mexico did (or are still doing) similar things with their signs; examples can be seen on the Gallup and Monticello pages. The Ucolo page shows where signage on US 491 changed from "North/South" to "East/West".
Research and/or image credits: Steve Riner; Dale Sanderson; Thomas Silas
Page originally created 2003;last updated Aug. 09, 2025.
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